Multi-pocket specimen bag incorporating easy tear lines for removal of pre-sealed inserts
A quick tear open specimen bag for use such as by gloved medical personnel including first and second panels connected along side and bottom edges to define an interior accessible through an open top. A pair of sealable portions extend proximate the open top and are engageable to close the interior after depositing a specimen therein. A third panel secures in overlaying fashion to a selected one of the primary panels to define a second interior for receiving an indicia insert. Gripping lines are configured into each of the first and second panels, between the sealable portions and the interior, and upon being engaged create an even and smooth edged tear to reveal the primary and secondary interiors.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to plastic bag enclosures, such as for holding a medical specimen or the like. More particularly, the present invention teaches a multi-pocket bag device for respectively holding a medical specimen and associated medical literature. A pair of opposing resealable portions facilitate initial sealing of the specimen within the bag. A plurality of closely spaced and parallel extending grip lines extending between the sides of the bag facilitating quick “tear away” of an upper bag portion including the resealable beads, and such as for use by medical personnel wearing gloves and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is well documented with examples of reclosable plastic bag devices, these each typically including male and female extending and interlocking profiles, as well as a sealed and moisture resistant interior. The use of such bags is prevalent in the known art and for a wide range of applications.
The Taheri, Safeguard Specimen Bag (U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,302) teaches a bag exhibiting tamper-evident features and including an adhesive flap foldable to cover the mouth of the bag to deter and indicate tampering with the contents and including access to a secondary compartment in which such as within which an insert is located. The indicia on the bag is visibly altered by attempts to release the adhered flap. A tear zone in the form of a reduced thickness section (see at 350 in FIGS. 12-14) is formed into the sides of the bag between opposite side edges and, upon being engaged, creates a ragged and open end for retrieval of an interiorly held specimen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,543, issued to Cochran, teaches an easy open container exhibiting guide strips, in the form of protruding beads attached to the protruding surface of the ply material. The guide strips, according to one embodiment, are included with one or more tear strips on a member, which may be attached to a container (see FIG. 13 of the Cochran disclosure).
PCT/WO92/16422, to Levy, teaches a multi-pocket medical specimen bag, again including a single weakened tear line 40 for easy open. The bag is constructed of three overlaying sheets of clear plastic joined along three common edges to create two separate pockets open along a fourth edge of the assembled sheets. One of the sheets includes an adhesive flap foldable against the exposed fourth edges of the remaining sheets for sealing all of the pockets. The sealed end is torn off along a rear (perforated) tear line (shown at 40) to regain access to all pockets.
Sklar, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0217943, teaches a dual chamber medical specimen bag with a single weakened/perforation line 136 extending across each of first and second plies (see FIG. 7). Reference is also made to the Bowman U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,313, Levy U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,234 and Laske U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,388 patents, and which are cumulative of those previously described.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention teaches a multi-pocket bag device for respectively (and individually) holding a medical specimen and an associated (medical) literature insert. Resealable portions are defined, in inwardly opposing fashion, between first and second panels of the bag and may include male and female biasingly engaging portions, as well a modified configuration utilizing an adhesive or heat sealing flap or the like. Also, a mechanical zipper can be employed. Upon pre-inserting a desired object (such as in particular a medical and/or biohazard related specimen or even a larger sized item such as a garment article or the like in the instance of a larger sized specimen bag enclosure) facilitate initial sealing of the specimen within the bag.
A flap overlays a third panel and secures along opposite common side edges of the three panels. The flap may be manipulated to gain access to an outer pocket associated with the multi-pocket bag device, and such as within which is held a paper insert or other indicia.
A plurality of closely spaced and parallel extending grip lines are arranged in aligning fashion along the first and second panels sides. The grip lines facilitate quick “tear away” of an upper bag portion including the resealable beads, and is used such as by medical personnel wearing gloves.
The configuration of the tear lines is such that they define, in cross section, interiorly projecting barbs and, to a lesser extent, opposite and outwardly projecting points, these further providing a degree of tactile “feel” during handling and tearing open of the bag by a user. The plural tear line arrangement is further such that it exhibits a thickness at least as great as anywhere along either of the main panels, and therefore does not weaken the structural integrity of the panels. Upon the user ripping open the bag, a uniform and non-ragged edge results from tearing open, this being formed between a given succeeding pair of tear lines associated with each panel.
An interconnecting edge associated with the third flap overlay may also be positioned in parallel extending fashion between the grip lines and the resealable portions and, upon tearing open the bag, incises the interconnecting edge for fully opening the second panel containing the literature insert, concurrent with opening the primary specimen holding compartment. It is also contemplated that further modifications of the bag structure may either do away with the third panel, rendering a single enclosure, or may add a fourth opposite edge panel for creating first, second and third individual enclosures.
Additional features further contemplate notching common edges of the bag along a zone defined by the tear lines, and to further facilitate easy and even tear opening of the bag. The exterior facing surface of the first panel further may exhibit a desired indicia arrangement, including such as “BIOHAZARD” and Design warning, and including indicia applicable checklists, such as further to identify a given temperature zone (e.g. Frozen, Refrigerate, Room Temperature) in which to store the bag contents. It is further contemplated that such as a commercial identifying name may be imprinted upon the bag, such as in multiple fashion along its tear zone defined by the plurality of gripping and tear lines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSReference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
Referring now to
The bag device is typically constructed of a semi or fully transparent plasticized film material, such as is known in the art to include polyester, polyethylene or any other suitable plasticized material exhibiting the properties of sealability. The bag device includes a first main panel 16 and a second main panel 18 which are interconnected together along opposite sides 20 and 22 and a bottom edge 24, so as to define a primary interior 25 accessible through an open top 26 (referring again to
Resealable portions 28 and 30 are defined, in inwardly opposing fashion, between the first 16 and second 18 panels of the bag 10, and typically a spaced distance from its top 26. The resealable portions typically include inwardly opposing male and female interengaging portions, as is known in the art. As further best shown in the enlarged view of
Referring to
In this fashion, the bag device may provide for a permanent seal in an alternate variant to the releasably sealing aspects of
A third panel 36 is secured to the pair of panels 16 and 18, and as shown in
A flap 42 overlays the top 38 of the third panel 36 and, in one variant, secures along both the side edges 20 and 22 of the bag, in addition to engaging along a top edge 44 (see
Referring to the alternate view of
It is also envisioned that other variants of the present design may remove both the third and fourth panels (such as illustrated in cutaway at
Referring again to
The configuration of the tear lines 46 and 48 is such that they define, in cross section, interiorly projecting barbs, see at 50 for lines 46 and at 52 for lines 48, and, to a lesser extent, opposite and outwardly projecting points, at 54 and 56 respectively and which face the exterior/outward surfaces of the bag ply layers 16 and 18 (see as best shown in enlarged views of
Upon preloading and sealing the bag, the inner barb portions 50 and 52 (see as best shown in
The grip lines, as such, facilitate quick “tear away” of an upper bag portion 58 (again
Additional features further contemplate notching common edges of the bag, see as shown at 60 in
The exterior facing surface of a selected panel, typically panel 16 opposite third panel 36, further may exhibit a desired indicia arrangement, including such as “BIOHAZARD” and Design warning, see at 62 in
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A bag, comprising:
- a pair of four sided panels secured together along side edges and a bottom edge to define an interior accessible through an open top;
- sealable portions extending proximate said open top and engageable to close said interior after depositing an item therein; and
- a plurality grip lines arranged in aligning fashion along each of said panels, between said resealable portions and said interior, said grip lines being engaged to remove an upper portion of said bag including said resealable beads and to open said interior.
2. The bag as described in claim 1, each of said plurality of grip lines further comprising, in cross section, interiorly projecting barbs which overlap upon closure of said interior.
3. The bag as described in claim 2, each of said pluralities of grip lines further comprising outwardly projecting points extending opposite said barbs, each plurality of grip lines maintaining a uniform wall thickness of said first and second panels.
4. The bag as described in claim 1, further comprising a third panel secured to said pair of panels along said side and bottom edges to define a secondary interior.
5. The bag as described in claim 4, a top edge of said third panel terminating short of said grip lines.
6. The bag as described in claim 5, a flap overlaying said top edge of said third panel and securing along said side edges of said bag, said flap being manipulated to gain access to said secondary interior.
7. The bag as described in claim 6, further comprising an insert indicia contained within said secondary interior.
8. The bag as described in claim 6, further comprising said interconnecting side edges associated with said flap being positioned between said pluralities of grip lines and sealable portions such that, upon removing said upper portion, said secondary interior is accessed along with said item holding interior.
9. The bag as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one notch defined in each of said bag side edges concurrent with said location of said pluralities of tear lines.
10. The bag as described in claim 1, further comprising an exterior facing surface of a selected panel exhibiting a desired indicia scheme.
11. A multi-pocket bag device for holding a medical specimen and an associated medical literature insert, comprising:
- first and second panels secured together along side edges and a bottom edge to define a primary interior accessible through an open top;
- sealable portions extending proximate said open top and engageable to close said primary interior after depositing the specimen therein;
- a third panel secured to a selected one of said first and second panels along said side and bottom edges to define a secondary interior for receiving the literature insert;
- a flap overlaying a top edge of said third panel and securing along said bag side edges; and
- a plurality grip lines arranged in aligning fashion along each of said first and second panels and creating a gripping zone below said resealable portions, said gripping zone being engaged to create a tear between succeeding grip lines associated with each panel to remove an upper portion of said bag, including said resealable beads, and to open said primary and secondary interiors.
12. The bag as described in claim 11, said flap further comprising a top interconnecting edge secured to a selected one of said first and second panels between said sealable portions and said plurality of grip lines.
13. The bag as described in claim 12, said flap further comprising a perforation line located proximate an intermediate location of said gripping zone.
14. The bag as described in claim 11, each of said plurality of grip lines further comprising, in cross section, interiorly projecting barbs which overlap upon closure of said interior.
15. The bag as described in claim 14, each of said pluralities of grip lines further comprising outwardly projecting points extending opposite said barbs, each plurality of grip lines maintaining a uniform wall thickness of said first and second panels.
16. The bag as described in claim 11, further comprising at least one notch defined in each of said bag side edges concurrent with said location of said gripping zone.
17. The bag as described in claim 11, further comprising an indicia scheme applied to an external surface of a selected panel and including at least a “BIOHAZARD” and symbol warning, an indicia applicable checklist further identifying a given temperature zone selected from at least one of frozen, refrigerated, and room temperature in which to store said specimen.
18. The bag as described in claim 11, further comprising a fourth panel secured to the other selected one of said first and second panels along said side and bottom edges to define a tertiary interior.
19. A quick tear open specimen bag for use by gloved medical personnel, comprising:
- first and second panels connected along three edges to define an interior accessible through an open top;
- a pair of sealable portions extending proximate said open top and being engageable to close said interior after depositing a biohazardous specimen therein; and
- a gripping zone configured into each of said first and second panels, extending a widthwise distance along each of said panels and between said sealable portions and said primary interior, said gripping zone maintaining a continuous wall thickness associated with each of said panels and being engaged to create an even and smooth edged tear to reveal said interior.
20. The quick tear specimen bag as described in claim 19, each of said tear zones further comprising a plurality of closely spaced and parallel extending grip lines, each of said grip lines further exhibiting, in cross section, interiorly projecting barbs which overlap opposing barbs and upon engagement of said sealable portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 6, 2007
Inventor: Chia-Hsiang Chang (Troy, MI)
Application Number: 11/368,975
International Classification: B65D 33/00 (20060101); B65D 30/22 (20060101); B65D 33/16 (20060101);